A Glimpse Into First Baptist Church Atlanta’s History

Built by Faith as a Fellowship of Believers

1848 David Gonto Daniell was sent by the Baptist State Convention to the tiny railroad town now known as Atlanta. He gathered 16 other men and women together and First Baptist Church was born. They met where they could find space, usually in a small one-room school house. In June, they dedicated their first church building on the corner of Walton and Forsyth in downtown Atlanta. Unfortunately, during the Civil War the building was heavily damaged and many members were wounded or killed. Even still, the members trusted in God to provide a new building.

1869 God was faithful and they dedicated a new building on the same lot debt-free.

1903 At this point, the church had grown and was in need of a new building. Because of Atlanta’s growth, they were now surrounded by the business district and wanted to move to the suburbs north of Atlanta. They sold the Walton and Forsyth site for $81,000 and purchased a lot in the residential area across the street from the Governor’s Mansion on the corner of Peachtree and Cain streets.

1906 The new building opened for worship on June 3.

1920 By this time, once again, the church had outgrown the building and was surrounded by the business district. Sunday school had grown so much that parents were having to send their children to neighborhood churches because there was no room for them at First Baptist. When the site was bought it was in the residential area, but now the business area was closing in again, leaving them no room to grow. To accommodate the current membership and provide room for growth, an entire city block was purchased in the new residential area north of the business district at Peachtree and Fifth streets.

1930 The sanctuary was completed. Many people thought the building would take care of the needs of the church forever.

1971 Dr. Charles F. Stanley was called to be the senior pastor of First Baptist Atlanta. The church continued to experience tremendous growth under his teaching and leadership. By 1988, the membership had outgrown the available space again.

1989 First Baptist Atlanta purchased 55 acres from the Avon Corporation in the Dunwoody area with plans to renovate the building to meet its expanded needs as a congregation.

1997 The congregation moved to this current location in April.

Presently, First Baptist Church Atlanta is continually working to use the building to meet the congregation’s needs. Renovations that have taken place since moving into the current location include providing the Student Ministry with a gym and café area and expanding classroom areas in the Education wing. The sanctuary has also been renovated; the current sanctuary was completed in January 2006.